Long silence
and no photos -seem to be have used Ruth's camera. My last post was at Easter. The last 12 weeks have been stressful -though gradually feeling better as Judith makes good progress. There have been some downs and she has just heard that she will need surgery on both hips sooner rather than one hip replacement later. She has had to cope with cryptosporidium as well but currently is gaining strength with gym and swimming and is able to go out with a wheelchair. I have enjoyed a couple of outings. We had a nice lunch on a lovely mild late autumn day at the Ashurst Domain and then on 26 June we had lunch in town and look at some clothing shops before visiting Anna at there new house. I am going up every third Saturday -though Ruth and the Boys and I are planning to go this Sunday before we go to Canada.


The weekly work routine continues. I have been busy at school with exams and reports as well as the usual preparation and teaching. Currently both my geography classes are using GIS so we are having a lot of fun. it is working well and the students clearly understand the geographic pattens and relationships.

On Tuesday Charles catches the bus back to Chilton after school and then we go to music. he played at his school assembly last week, his year group were in charge of the programme. Apparently he played well. He has a recital with the Suzuki group this weekend. on Wednesday's I get home in time to look after Christopher while Charles has soccer practise. We have been going to the super market to do the cafe shopping and ride on the rides - a helicopter and pat the postman. Thursday I pick Charles up from gymnastics and then its Friday and I manage a school badminton team. This is not a hard task but I like to support them and it avoids any problems.

We managed to get the garden at Ruth's under control before winter and recent weekends we have been raking leaves - "blown off by the wind and rain" as Christopher pointed out. We have started the pruning just 3 tree left. We will ensure everything that needs to be is securely covered against frost before we leave. I don't think the garden will be Pierre's top priority especially once Murray is away as well and Pierre is it for the cafe as well.

Most weekends we have had a walk ( mostly up the Wainuiomata river) or a bike ride. In the school holidays we did a number of outing. I ventured to Lollipops with the boys - Ruth was at the cafe. We went bowling at Strike - Christopher beat me! We managed a fine day to go to the zoo. It was a day were zoo card members could go early. It was a good time to see the animals.

Another day when Ruth was doing a shift at the cafe I took the boys swimming - we all returned safely with all our gear - I almost lost a shoe. We had a great game of mini-golf at a Pirate Mini-golf centre. Christopher only lost two balls that we couldn't rescue. He preferred to see them in the water. We came home over Hayward's and had a picnic lunch at Dry Creek. The weather was very nice though it had been raining earlier in the week and so the stream was too high for us to ford.


Recently Christopher and I have been watching the phases of the moon - someone - a space person took a piece away! it has bee to wet to watch the waxing of the full moon.


The cafe continues about the same as last year - maybe a little up but then costs are up with increased in fuel and dairy products. Getting the roster sorted for July has been a challenge but I hope I have someone in every space!

Ruth had a stamping party last week which was fun. Different and relaxing even though it was a school night and there was a serious accident which made the demonstrator an hour late. Along with Charles doing some class work on family traditions I feel spurred on to continue sorting out the family tree stuff. This is involving sorting out storage and organising the space a bit better. I think I might invest in some decent shelving as a starting point - then I can see what I am trying to do.

I will see if I can get some photos from Ruth.